Metro Justice will hold town hall Wednesday to discuss public takeover of RG&E

ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Metro Justice and two Monroe County legislators are continuing to advocate for a feasibility study on turning RG&E into a public utility.

The nonprofit Metro Justice will hold a town hall on Wednesday at Fairport High School from 6 to 8 p.m. Legislators Mercedes Vazquez Simmons and Albert Blankley will be there along with legislature candidate Lystra McCoy.

Metro Justice says that a public takeover of RG&E could help to address rising utility costs, billing errors, and customer service issues. The town hall comes after the state’s Public Service Commission approved a rate increase for RG&E and NYSEG, but only half of what utility companies originally requested.

In June, Rochester City Council committed up to $500,000 for Monroe County to conduct a study on the feasibility of a public takeover of RG&E. Metro Justice is urging the county legislature to provide up to $1 million toward that study, the last step before the study moves forward.

There would need to be a referendum for a public takeover of RG&E. At the town hall, customers can share their frustrations with RG&E and learn how they can push the county legislature to fund the study.

See News10NBC’s coverage of RG&E customer service issues:

• Chili family gets nine RG&E bills in two months (July)
• RG&E’s toll free TTY number goes to scammers (March)
• 7k RG&E bill turns into 8k bill credit which turns into a shut-off notice (February)
• Customers express frustration at virtual forums about RG&E billing issues (February)
• Billing and customer service problems continue at RG&E (January)
• Following News10NBC investigation, state regulators expand probe into RG&E and NYSEG (December)